Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-03-02
aFogL ar THE GOVERNOR.
difference OF Opinion Relative
appointments and Combinations.

appointments ard Combinations.
Bismarck. G. T., Feb. 27.--Friday
evening a secret caucus of republican
members of the council was ksld, ct
which the subject under consideration
was the loaves and fshes-how and ty
whom shall they be distributed. Reports
had reached the members that the new
executive was disposed to continue the
making of appointments OF his wi se-
lection, and that while there might be
no reason for fsult.finding on the score
OF unitness there was danger that the
crumbs which fell before the republicans
would be unsatisfying both in number
and size. Members of the caucus to- the
number OF fifteen then entered into an
agreement to stand together in ell mat.
ters concerning appointments to office, q
majority to decide when there were dis
agreements, and this agreement was
placed in writing and signed by each
of the fifteen.
Yesterday afternoon the committee
appointed ct the CAUCUS, consisting of
Oonncilmen Grigsby, Collins, and Shell
don, OF Hand, waited on the governor.
Mr.. Grigsby, as spokesman, said, IN
effect, that the committee came as the
delegated representatives of the council;
that it had come to the ears of members
of that body that the governor had
stated it to be his intention to make the
appointment Of the director and trustee
ships OF the various institution OF the
territory without consulting with the
members of the council. At least that
ia cases of boards of five members he
should appoint three without c~onsulta-
ton, and they had come to him to learn
if these reports we're true, and to see ii
some understanding could not be
reached which would be satisfactory to
oil interests. In response the governor
said that the committee could not wish
for harmony more sincerely than him.
self, but he understood the republican
members OF the council clam the right
to. dictate a majority of the members OF
such boards.
Mr.. Grigsby interrupted the COVER
nor to say that he perhaps misappre-
hended the position of the council. The
governor responded that he received
his information only twenty-four hours
earlier from the gentleman himself.
"Well," said Mr., Grigsby, 81 was only
speaking for myself. Since then we
have had consultation and I speak
1 AOW h6 Oub u b COUlUulIL66 EGDEGEGnGlD q
the majority Of the council"
ResumiDg, Governor Church defined
his position by saying in substance: AS
governor OF the territory he was respon-
slble for the management of the public
institutions. He had no special reason
to suppose that any of them were not
now well managed. but it wat duty TO
learn the facts. The council now, &C.
cording to the representation OF the
committee, asked him to pat it out of
his power to do SO, by putting the
appointment of boards of managers into
the hands of the council. He did not
think his duty to the people of the ter
itory would permit of his
entertaining any such pro-
position. He said: "You ask me
to sanction areverssl OF the requires
ments of law, by permitting you to be-
come the appointing power instead OF
the confirming. 1t is my duty to send
to yen ell the names of men whom I
wish to take charge of these instItu-
tions. 1t is your duty, unless they are
shown to be unfit for the places to
which they are named, to confirm them.
I cheerfully concede to you the privi-
lego Of naming two of each five, but
beyond that I can not 60"
Some reference was made to the re-
publican majority in the territory, and
j the right of the republicans to a ma
, iority representation on boards of local
management TO which the governor
responded in substance that it struck
him the less said by republicans Of the
partisan aspect OF the case the better
He was mot aware that during the time
OF republican control in the territory the
democrats had been given places for the
reason that they we're. democrats
III make appointments OF
good men and you reject
them the responsibility rests on you
The stipulation i make is that you
shall appoint capable and honest men
and that you do no appoint republicans
who are offensive to democrats, ir
return for which I promise not to ap
point democrats who are offensive tc
republicans"
DR.. Collins, for the committee, said
that some complaint had been made O,
the distribution Of the board OF railroad
commissioners; that two of the three
were from south Dakota. The governor
said in reply that he had selected the
!, geutiemen on account Of their high
i recommendation for the positions. All
: were energetic, capable, and, he believ.
ed, in every respect good appointments
BE said that Beadle county, the home
!, of Mr.. Smith, was in central Dakota,
and therefore it could not be said that
no member had been selected from that
selection of the territory. DIR. Collins
suggested that o bill in which all were
interested was about to be considered,
and that the committee would be pleased
TO renew consultation at another time
Governor Church replied: cit would
be waste OF time. He had taken the
position with deliberation, and should
maintain it."
The council held an executive session
Saturday afternoon, at which the APP
pointment of P. #. Mcclure to. be COM
missioner of immigration was confirmed
but the appointments for railroad COM
missioners we're not. It is said the re-
publicans took the ground that il The
governor wants to give the republicans
q place on the board the republican
counoiimen want something to say
about who it shall be. The point is also
made that il can NOT be fairly claimed
THAT any one OF the three appointed was
named from central Dakota. The re.
publicans seem determined not to ac-
oept the two -ifths representation on the
board offered by Governor Church, bui
will make o fight for more. It is claimed
that if the governors appointments are
rejected the trustees now in Office will
hold over.
K The Bankrupt Dominion.